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What I dont understand is why Air India dont allocate a widebody onto that 2nd sector from Delhi and Mumbai to Bangkok......from reading airline forums these connections are full every time Now China Eastern on their 2nd sector start January Shanghai Bangkok had an A330 on that sector and that was full as well If a widebody was allocated it would make the experience perfectly acceptable especially for the price on Air India and pricewise at £289 very good indeed

Just done short trip report over Air India same sub section

My lad went to Dubai via Riyadh last year......on outbound sector bag didnt come onto acrousel at Dubai....his story was the same multiple bags hadnt been loaded. They did get it back about 5 hours later fortunately. Apart from that though he thought Saudi were good

I thought I had done a report here before from last October over using Air India via Delhi Its possible it was elsewhere as cant find it here...no problem Recap back to October I had flown out of Heathrow via Delhi....one of the reasons was certainly price one way but also the fact Air India had literally just taken delivery of a brand new A350 few weeks before Now the Heathrow Delhi sector was excellent as expected but Delhi Bangkok let it down with single aisle A320 and an old one at that. No screens no nothing. Chalk and cheese compared to 1st sector Fast forward and am on Air India again but this time via Mumbai again price was excellent Main sector was on 777-300ER but probably older version clearly....seats were fine no problem not on a par with A350 but quite acceptable nonetheless Onto to 2nd sector and after choosing 25C aisle at online check in near the back (and obviously having that boarding card at Heathrow) going through final gate the scan flashes red and says seat change...thinking immediately might have been upgraded no in hindsight I've been downgraded lol New boarding card showing 29C so think no problem until I got on 29C was final row and not only was the seat back jammed hard against bulkhead its clear the seat pitch is less than other rows...visibly different Spoke to male flight attendant who immediately contacted someone from ground handling who came 5 minutes later...Really sorry Sir we've had to substitute the aircraft which has different configuaration.....Very politely quietly non aggressive I say I'm not sitting there. I cannot genuinely get my legs in straight. Off he goes and says flight is full sir completely......this time I did speak slightly louder saying dont make your problem my problem. You'll have to offload someone I said (clearly not the wisest thing to say) lol Back he comes and says sit 26D and very small lady got lumbered with my initial seat....in hindsight I should have stayed there !! Half the passengers were up walking around talking to other passengers standing in aisle...how many times I got accidentally whacked I dont know....only 2 shitters at back so queue all the time past where I was sitting Nighmare 4 hours that was ! They are so ignorant without outright naming the nationality ! Definately thats it never again !

Reopened apparently Jacko but guess will take few days to get back to normal I'm flying Monday inbound (hopefully) and lad is on Eva Wednesday outbound

China Eastern and Air India both leading the way with decent priced single and return fares Now I'd be the first to say if you were on a very short trip than the increased airtime might not suit but if you're on a long trip another 3 hours in the air is no big deal China Eastern bouncing around £500 return like Air India in fact £485 when I did random midweek dates Just picked up Air India for just after Songkran one way for £289 Heathrow Bangkok total "airtime" of 13 hours 20 minutes so perfectly acceptable...normal transit times Eva cheapest the day I booked AI was £515 Extra £226 or 9.831 at todays rates.......for just under 10k could have fair bit of fun in gents clubs over say 3 visits !

I would surmise the passport stamp I'm not quite sure what you're referring to ?? When you say Evisa did you mean SETV from Embassy website

That China Eastern was decent again...food not the best but had A330 and 777 on the two sectors so no single aisle 737 etc 95% plus full from Gatwick to Shanghai and 100% full Shanghai to Bangkok Very heavy flight traffic was circling for 30 minutes...;arrived about 45 minutes late Immigration heaving 2nd trip in a row I was asked the question "no visa" I had an onward ticket for 6th Feb so wasnt concerned but interesting that they asked again Didnt ask for anything though but the kiosk beside me a female IO did ask young guy for something (I didnt hear) but he was frantically looking through his phone for something....no idea if he found it

I wrote the above before going down for the breakfast buffet and the foodi itself was actually fine...solid 8/10 there It opened at 6am and I was first in quickly followed by others.....2 piles of plates heated through. Top 2 plates covered in yesterdays remnants of food This time I have reacted lol and totally warranted.....calls the server over and just point. Further words were superfluous. Not a word of apology whatsoever. Just took the 2 plates away and said absolutely nothing ! Even more alarming from the Travel lodges own point of view....nobody bothered checking complimentary breakfast voucher whatsoever. Anyone could walk in Checking out a bloke comes up beside me and says he wants to pay for his breakfast lol (its not included automatically its £11.95).....complete honesty from him and his wife yet the indifference from reception staff just astonishing. Couldnt have cared less and with that shuttle coach came and the less said the better about that lol.....shocking experience all around.....will give it overall 2/10 and one point was for the decent food assuming I dont start shitting myself to death on the plane lol No alarm wake up call service so just had phone alarm but woke up 1am anyway... just farcical

I'm actually in the accomodation in above post now Has to rank as the biggest shithole I have ever dropped anchor in I wouldnt even know where to start but its mid winter minus 3 outside and this in photo is the heating provided....its a family room "upgrade" and woke at 1am its so cold inside Wifi you get 30 minutes and then have to pay (not joking) The approach road to the property has no pavement. You're literally walking in the road full of potholes (and ice) TV is something out of the ark must be about 19" tops I could go on for an hour......wait to the fuc**** see the review I give tomorrow once left. Travelodge Gatwick I've stayed at Premier Inn Heathrow previously which was fine. Wrongly assumed this would be similar

Unfortunately where we are from in UK its a minimum 220 miles to either Heathrow ot Gatwick Take into account coach times and time between arrival and wheels up its typically 9 hours minimum Not to bad coming to Thailand for obvious reasons but coming home is utter nightmare Even when I came home on Thai (so obviously non stop) because of coach timings and getting home from final coach stop was 29 hours on Boxing day door to door.....I could have chopped 1 hour off that by leaving later from Condo but thats it

China Eastern Jacko who I have flown before Lovely seating 33" in economy no stupid underseat AVOD boxes either Transit in Pudong Shanghai 2 hours 10 minutes "Air time" is the same as say Malaysian or Cathay from Bangkok to or fro London so not excessive

Just had a look at pricing on my flights this weekend back out with scheduled return end of March and its £484 I paid £404 back when I booked it in November Plenty of value about still

Flipper was my first hotel ever in Pattaya so always holds a good memory care of "Thai Adventures" Brian Kelly and Nick Hurn out of Guernsey Havent dropped anchor there for a long time though last visit must have around 2007 ish Friend from UK who must be pushing 200 visits (if not higher) always stays there so must be still very good

Interesting re Agoda I had to come back for 2 weeks and back out on 11th January Because of where I live in the UK and the ability to get to Gatwick (a rare occurence) and an early flight I looked at getting a hotel at Gatwick for evening of the 10th initally I looked at Agoda without being logged in.....£55 (very fair) for the one I wanted Logged in few hours later to book it and status is high (usual agoda I thought bollacks) but now the price dropped to £51....now they have thrown in free breakfast AND upgraded me to a family room ! Fair play indeed

The proceeds of crime act of 2002 covers the £1,000 level at which point "they" can take interest and covers the Police/ Border Force/ Customs and other official Government departments. I gave personal experience of 3 instances of myself being tugged (one less than 2 months ago) and suggested you watch any number of border force shows (not a day goes by without repeats somewhere). I am surprised anyone didnt know that we as passengers "could" be questioned at only the £1000 level..."Could/can" being the operative words So the paper declaration in otherwards written declaration is presented to Border Force/Customs as you leave the country and is required at 10k Euro as Knortyboy correctly stated albeit sooner or later (doubtless later) than wil revert to Sterling now we've left the EU but notwithstanding whether its 10k Euro or Sterling its not relevant to the point being made namely the much lower limit Returning to proceeds of crime act of 2002.......hordes of links but this one will suffice https://amisolicitors.co.uk/2022/05/09/what-you-should-know-about-cash-and-asset-seizure-due-to-uk-border-offences/ No one needs to panic over this level because all it takes is some proof of where the money originated. Bank receipts/ATM receipts are perfect. On all three occasions I brushed the query off easily once on final gate and once at hand scanners (both those with receipts) and on 3rd occasion in March this year he didnt even check....just asked if I had in excess of £1,000 Vast majority of us (to Thailand) I'd imagine send money in advance these days anyway via Wise etc etc so anyone with hard currency kinda stands out a bit to them and their money dogs Reading the flyer forums the money dogs are more prevalent it seems at Heathrow and Manchester

It is 10k Euros or equivalent It was "supposed" to have reverted the day we officially left the EU but the statute book still has it at Euros No Keyman you're talking about paper declaration limits. Anything over just £1,000 and questions "can" be asked as to origin and in fact as recently as March this year arriving into the UK was pulled at Customs at Gatwick and after first usual questions pack the bag tourself, do you know alcohol and cigarette limits etc etc the 4th or 5th question was do you have over £1,000 on you which I truthfully answered no (to all questions) He didnt check at all. Open palms and looked him right in the eyes lol That £1.000 level has been in force since 2002 where questions to origin can be asked under proceeds of crime act of that year Customs programmes on the Sky Channel feature it weekly....amusing watching a Vietnamese girl recently who lied when the dog indicated on her (think it was Heathrow) and they uncovered about £4,500 on her (edited in...she didnt have proof of where it came from) She claimed she worked in a nail bar. Border Force confiscated it pending further investigation. They asked if she still wanted to fly and rather surprisingly (to me) she still did Too me she looked like a well you know lol

Well its booked lol Out of interest I have flown Air India twice before via new Delhi (round trips) and its a typical "internet myth" that they are horrendous that somehow the last 25 years has become an "internet fact" instead First I agree the security was over the top with bells on. I recall 5 security checks leaving Delhi for the connection to Bangkok but its a one off we're not doing it weekly Food was "ok" albeit I'll eat anything except brusell sprouts lol Joined their frequent flyer scheme which is part of star alliance. Out of interest on Air India was one of two times I've been pinged out of Heathrow with cash in excess of £1000 by a money dog on final gate. (think it was around £3000 from memory) Receipts from ATM had border force politely saying thank you within a minute

Force I "doubt" very much if this is anyone (on any forum) who has done more London Bangkok round tickets with a fair proportion on staff tickets and a few booked direct with airline down the decades At least of the overall total I'd say a minimum 100 have been "agent" tickets. Never once have I had a problem. Not once. Have they all been booked with one single agent...nope far from it When I have had issues or want changes did the agent deal very effectively with the requests....yep each and every time The problem with what you (and others say) is invariably we always only (in the main) hear the bad experiences (doesnt matter what the subject matter is the same scenario applies) 100/100 succesful bookings is some five star rating am sure you agree If peoiple want to book direct crack on and pay more but with none of the benefits of an agent if things go awry with a booking Out of interest 1 month after contacting an airline direct over a minor issue am still waiting for a response from their registered Twitter and FB messenger accounts after it transpired they closed their phonelines at weekends.....it took my agent in March who really shouldnt have needed to get involved just 22 minutes to respond and sort) As Trink would have said.....further words are superfluous

This was the Air India screenshot one way obviously

I've been looking at one way tickets out start of October time which apart from Air India who have some promotion on via Delhi and Bombay on their new Dreamliners and A350's (around £310) are roughly the same as I paid October 2023 for one way around £380 to £400.....I would expect that to drop nearer the time though But its the round trip prices that have dropped....I was going to put uploads of screenshots but instead with list a few returning end of March 2025 Eva the cheapest I've seen for a long time £664 Singapore at £605 and I saw fairly recently those at £560.....standard connections 2 hours or so Malaysian at £570 normal connections 2 hours Saudia at £568...slightly longer connections although they have short connection at enhanced price Swiss/Austrian code share at £550...extremely short connections (40 minutes on Austrian the minimum allowable) Plenty more All agent prices and make no apologies for always using them lol

Dont carry Power packs when you go through transit. No matter what the size they get confiscated. I thought it may have only been the day I transitted very recently but have read multiple reports of the same issue since then Seeing as its forbidden to put in checked luggage its a pain in the arse On an aside the airport was deserted at around 1am nothing was open and only 2 flights leaving one of which was ours to London

Surprised that monies in light of Iran Israel havent on the face of it flowed into the safe(r) haven of the USD overnight and today Sterling/Baht more or less where it finished Friday Indicies in the main all up as well. Very strange and even oil has eased slightly

Related to the thread. 2 years ago I got referred to local hospital in UK as a brown mark/mole had appeared on face (I heavily stay in the sun I freely acknowledge) Dr wasnt happy so within 4 days (fair play NHS) i'm up the skin clinic. Intially Dr says not quite sure let me call in senior consultant Duly turns up 20 minutes later gets his magnifying glass out and says nahh its ok its not melanoma but "keep an eye on it any changes let us know" Whilst it looked quite prominent (to me) nobody has ever commented over it including 2 guys on this forum Fast forward to 4 days ago and a crust has formed. Shit I think so Friday call Drs who again act swiftly and say go up Tuesday (tomorrow) to skin clinic again Wake up this morning go to shave look in mirror and WTF....its gone completely disappeared overnight I cant even see where it was the skin is completely clear lol I message Drs again who rang me an hour later (fair play to my surgery) and Dr says "what do you mean its gone" lol "Exactly what I've just said" I say politely. "So it was there yesterday but its gone today" she adds clearly sceptical lol "Yes" I say "its gone" Pause of about 5 seconds...."ok if it reappears let us know" 😁😁 That was that and appointment cancelled tomorrow lol....

Just go on to Travel Supermarket See the flights you want and click through. It tells you what baggage is included. If you then insist on paying more for your flight then go direct to the airline site and book there !! How come I've never had a single problem using agents lol.....when I have needed to get hold of customer service their responses have been superb and proactive (and I needed that service as recently as March when the airline itself didnt answer via Twitter Facebook Email and offices closed at weekends to phone calls.....22 minutes it took for Travel Trolley to respond to my subsequent email after their own office opened at 9am UK time on a Saturday) This internet "myth" that somehow its better to book direct with the airlines has somehow turned into an internet "fact" this last 25 years Its wrong on so many levels.......you take Southall Travel. Now I use one of their 5 seperate online agents. Can you only imagine how much business they give as consolidators to all airlines every single day ?? 1000s of booked flights daily and then some. Now why would an airline piss off these guys by not responding immediately to any queries they have ?? in short they dont. Utter myth that booking direct is better. Plus inavriably it costs more